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{{orthodoxyinnewzealand}}

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This is a timeline of the Orthodox presence in New Zealand.

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==Immigrants from the Middle East (to 1916)==

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*1850s: Massacres of Orthodox Christians by the Ottoman Turks in Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East see a great displacement of Orthodox from these regions.

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*1860s: Numbers of Arabic speaking Orthodox arrive in Australia and some move from there to New Zealand.

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*1880s: Discovery of gold, especially around Dunedin, sees significant arrivals of Orthodox from Eastern Europe and the Middle East in New Zealand. Dunedin becomes financial capital of New Zealand.

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*1890s: Russian, Syrian, and Greeks, set up joint community worship groups where all involved are welcome.

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*1898: Greek speaking Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East [[deposition|deposed]] for prohibiting services in the common language.

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*1899: [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople refuses to recognise newly elected Arabic speaking Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and agitates against all Arabic speakers. This fractures the Orthodox communities around the world.

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:: Local communities in Australia consider Patriarch of Jerusalem neutral in this dispute and ask him to send out [[priest]]s for Australasia. Priests sent, one each to Sydney and Melbourne.

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*1902: [[Church of Greece]] seizes responsibility for Greek Orthodox [[parish]]es in Australasia from the [[Church of Jerusalem]].

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*1908: [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]] arbitrates, prohibits any language other than church Greek in these churches, and assigns [[jurisdiction]] of Greek Orthodox parishes in Australasia to the Church of Greece.

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*1910: [[Hieromonk|Hmk]] [[Nicholas (Manovitch)]] (said to be Russian under Antioch), the first Orthodox priest to reside in New Zealand, arrives.

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:: First Orthodox church in New Zealand, dedicated to [[Archangel Michael|St Michael]], purpose built in Dunedin.

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*1911 Jan 11: Free of debt, St. Michael Dunedin is [[consecration of a church|consecrated]] by Archimandrite Nicholas (Manovitch) presumably under Patriarchal faculty.

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*1913: V Rev Fr [[Nicholas Shehadie]] appointed Patriarchal [[Exarch]] for Australia and New Zealand by Patriarch Gregorious Haddad of Antioch.

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::Archimandrite Nicholas (Manovitch) leaves New Zealand for Sydney, Australia. No priest left in New Zealand.

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*1916: Exarch Nicholas Shehadie visits New Zealand for 2-3 months. Conducts services throughout New Zealand. After his departure, again there is no Orthodox priest in New Zealand.

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==Immigrants from Russia and Turkey (1917-1947)==

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*1917: Bolshevik revolution in Russia sees large numbers of Russians and allied peoples displaced and fleeing genocidal massacres there and in satellite countries over the next 10 years. Many flee to western Europe, and then the Americas; others, via Asian Russia, flee to China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australasia.

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*1919: Exarchate of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) is confirmed as permanent by Patriarch of Antioch.

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*1920s: Millions of people displaced due to genocidal massacres in modern Turkey following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Large numbers of Orthodox flee to the Americas and Australasia.

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*1924 Mar 7: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand established by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

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::Jul 8: [[Metropolitan]] [[Christoforos (Knitis) of Australia and New Zealand|Christoforos (Knitis)]] of Australia and New Zealand (Greek) arrives in Australia.

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*1928: Metropolitan Christoforos (Knitis) deposed, exiled to Samos.

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*1931 Sep 18: [[Timotheos (Evangelinidis) of Rhodes|Timotheos (Evangelinidis)]] elected Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand (Greek) by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

*1937: [[Archimandrite]] [[Antonious (Mobayed)]] (Antiochian) arrives in New Zealand and stays for several months. Asks local Anglican [[clergy]], who agree, to care for local Orthodox during his absences. Fr Antonious last visits New Zealand in 1939.

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*1939 to 1945: Second World War seals all borders.

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*1947 Apr 22: Archimandrite [[Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos) of Australia and New Zealand|Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos)]] elected Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand (Greek) by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

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==Immigrants from the Middle East and Greece (1948-1974)==

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*1948 to 1955: Following the Second World War large numbers of Orthodox are again displaced from their former homelands. Arabic speaking Orthodox move out of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt to the new world, especially where their compatriots had already established settlements generations before. Greek speaking Orthodox move out of mainland Greece, and especially the Aegean Islands, and from Egypt, to previously populated new world countries. Many move to New Zealand.

*1969: Metropolitan Iakovos of Philadelphia, [[Exarch]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, arrives in Australia to consider future of the Greek churches of Australia and of New Zealand.

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::First Antiochian Orthodox hierarch, Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]] of [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand|Australia and New Zealand]], arrives in Australia.

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*1970 Jan: Patriarchate of Constantinople creates [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] separating it from the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]]. [[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios (Psiahas)]] elected Metropolitan of New Zealand and Exarch of India, Korea and Japan.

*1974 Dec 30: First local [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox]] hierarch of Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Nikolai (Mrdja), [[enthronement|enthroned]] in Australia.

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==Immigrants from Lebanon and Eastern Europe (1975-1999)==

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*1975-1985: Lebanese Civil War sees displacement of large numbers of Arabic speaking Orthodox to the new world countries, especially where communities had been previously established. Significant numbers arrive in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin.

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*1976: Romanian Orthodox Church establishes a parish in Wellington, the Dormition of the Mother of God, with priest George Speranta.

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*1980: Mitred Archpriest Alexey Godyaew retires.

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*1980: Hieromonk [[Ambrose (Mooney)]] returns from [[monasticism|monastic]] formation in Serbia and is seconded by the Serbian Church to the Russian Church. He assumes the parish duties of Archpriest Alexey Godyaew in NZ's three Russian parishes.

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*1984: Fr Jack is transferred to Christchurch.

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*1986: Hieromonk Ambrose (Mooney) establishes parish of St Michael the Archangel in Palmerston North to serve Russians, Serbs and converts.

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*1987: Allan Eades ordained deacon and then priest by Bishop Gibran in Auckland, who changes his name to Ilyan, the Arabic equivalent. Fr [[Ilyan Eades]] is appointed Rector of the Antiochian Church in Auckland, moving there from Te Awamutu in the Waikato Region.

*1991-2001: Large numbers of citizens of formerly Communist countries emigrate to countries where communities had been established in prior generations. Significant numbers move to New Zealand, especially to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, the majority being Russians, Ukrainians and Serbs sponsored by the Slavic Benevolent Society founded by Hieromonk [[Ambrose (Mooney)]]. The three Russian parishes each grow from a few dozen members to 1-2 thousand each, with 5000 in Auckland. Romanian-speaking community in New Zealand greatly strengthened by new arrivals.

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*1992 Oct: Fr Ilyan Eades transferred to be the rector of St Michael Church, Dunedin. He also establishes and pastors Invercargill mission.

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*1996 Nov: The first Pastoral visit by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] to New Zealand

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*1996: Exarchate of India removed from Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand and allocated to the newly-established (Greek) [[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]].

::April: Third Clergy Conference of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) held in Melbourne Australia.

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::July: [[Deanery of New Zealand (Antiochian)|New Zealand Deanery]] of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand created. Archpriest Jack Witbrock appointed Dean.

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::Metropolitan Dionysios (Psiahas) of New Zealand elected Metropolitan of Proussa. [[Joseph (Harkiolakis) of New Zealand|Joseph (Harkiolakis)]] elected Metropolitan of New Zealand, Exarch of Korea and Japan (Greek).

*2004 May: Fourth Clergy Conference of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) held in Wollongong, Australia.

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::[[Orthodox Metropolis of Korea]] ([[Church of Constantinople|EP]]) created, taking with it the exarchate of Japan. [[Church of Japan]] supported by [[Church of Russia]] objects to creation of parallel jurisdiction within its territory. [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Sotirios (Trambas)]], former auxiliary [[bishop]] to the Metropolitan of New Zealand, elected first metropolitan of Korea.

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*2005 Mar 25: Second NZ Clergy Conference (Antiochian). [[Max Athanasius Perkins]] ordained to the diaconate on the next day to serve the Antiochian Mission in Christchurch.

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::May: Fifth Clergy Conference of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) held in Wollongong, Australia.

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::June: Archpriest [[Vladimir Boikov]] appointed Rector of Auckland's Russian Orthodox parish and Dean of Russian parishes in New Zealand.

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::Aug: Metropolitan [[Joseph (Harkiolakis) of New Zealand|Joseph (Harkiolakis)]] resigns as Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of New Zealand and moves to Athens.

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::Oct: Bishop [[Amphilochios (Tsoukos) of New Zealand|Amphilochios (Tsoukos)]] elected Metropolitan of New Zealand.

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::Nov: [[Monastery of St. Andrew the First-called (Miramar, New Zealand)|Monastery of St Andrew]] founded.

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::Dec: Archpriest Ilyan Eades again declines an offer to join the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand, with full-time salary to be paid by Greek government.

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::Dec 4: [[John Hubbard]] ordained to the diaconate to serve at St George Church (Antiochian) in Auckland.

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*2006 May: Sixth Clergy Conference of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) held in Wollongong, Australia. New Zealand Deanery meeting in Wollongong presided over by Met. Abp Paul has wide-ranging discussions for the future of the Orthodox Church in New Zealand. Further discussions held in plenary session of Conference.

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*2008 Feb: Deacon [[Eugene Koulanov]] ordained to the Priesthood to serve as second priest in Christ the Saviour Russian parish in Auckland.

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==Further Reading==

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*Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, [http://antiochian.org.nz Deanery of New Zealand]

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*Chryssavgis, Fr M., & Chryssavgis, Fr J., ''Persons and Events in Orthodoxy: Historical Moments in the development of Orthodox Christianity (with a chapter on Australian Orthodoxy)'', Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, 1985.

Immigrants from the Middle East (to 1916)

1850s: Massacres of Orthodox Christians by the Ottoman Turks in Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East see a great displacement of Orthodox from these regions.

1860s: Numbers of Arabic speaking Orthodox arrive in Australia and some move from there to New Zealand.

1880s: Discovery of gold, especially around Dunedin, sees significant arrivals of Orthodox from Eastern Europe and the Middle East in New Zealand. Dunedin becomes financial capital of New Zealand.

1890s: Russian, Syrian, and Greeks, set up joint community worship groups where all involved are welcome.

1898: Greek speaking Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East deposed for prohibiting services in the common language.

1899: Patriarch of Constantinople refuses to recognise newly elected Arabic speaking Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and agitates against all Arabic speakers. This fractures the Orthodox communities around the world.

Local communities in Australia consider Patriarch of Jerusalem neutral in this dispute and ask him to send out priests for Australasia. Priests sent, one each to Sydney and Melbourne.

1913: V Rev Fr Nicholas Shehadie appointed Patriarchal Exarch for Australia and New Zealand by Patriarch Gregorious Haddad of Antioch.

Archimandrite Nicholas (Manovitch) leaves New Zealand for Sydney, Australia. No priest left in New Zealand.

1916: Exarch Nicholas Shehadie visits New Zealand for 2-3 months. Conducts services throughout New Zealand. After his departure, again there is no Orthodox priest in New Zealand.

Immigrants from Russia and Turkey (1917-1947)

1917: Bolshevik revolution in Russia sees large numbers of Russians and allied peoples displaced and fleeing genocidal massacres there and in satellite countries over the next 10 years. Many flee to western Europe, and then the Americas; others, via Asian Russia, flee to China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australasia.

1919: Exarchate of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) is confirmed as permanent by Patriarch of Antioch.

1920s: Millions of people displaced due to genocidal massacres in modern Turkey following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Large numbers of Orthodox flee to the Americas and Australasia.

1924 Mar 7: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand established by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

1937: ArchimandriteAntonious (Mobayed) (Antiochian) arrives in New Zealand and stays for several months. Asks local Anglican clergy, who agree, to care for local Orthodox during his absences. Fr Antonious last visits New Zealand in 1939.

Immigrants from the Middle East and Greece (1948-1974)

1948 to 1955: Following the Second World War large numbers of Orthodox are again displaced from their former homelands. Arabic speaking Orthodox move out of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt to the new world, especially where their compatriots had already established settlements generations before. Greek speaking Orthodox move out of mainland Greece, and especially the Aegean Islands, and from Egypt, to previously populated new world countries. Many move to New Zealand.

1974 Dec 30: First local Serbian Orthodox hierarch of Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Nikolai (Mrdja), enthroned in Australia.

Immigrants from Lebanon and Eastern Europe (1975-1999)

1975-1985: Lebanese Civil War sees displacement of large numbers of Arabic speaking Orthodox to the new world countries, especially where communities had been previously established. Significant numbers arrive in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin.

1976: Romanian Orthodox Church establishes a parish in Wellington, the Dormition of the Mother of God, with priest George Speranta.

1980: Mitred Archpriest Alexey Godyaew retires.

1980: Hieromonk Ambrose (Mooney) returns from monastic formation in Serbia and is seconded by the Serbian Church to the Russian Church. He assumes the parish duties of Archpriest Alexey Godyaew in NZ's three Russian parishes.

1984: Fr Jack is transferred to Christchurch.

1986: Hieromonk Ambrose (Mooney) establishes parish of St Michael the Archangel in Palmerston North to serve Russians, Serbs and converts.

1987: Allan Eades ordained deacon and then priest by Bishop Gibran in Auckland, who changes his name to Ilyan, the Arabic equivalent. Fr Ilyan Eades is appointed Rector of the Antiochian Church in Auckland, moving there from Te Awamutu in the Waikato Region.

1991-2001: Large numbers of citizens of formerly Communist countries emigrate to countries where communities had been established in prior generations. Significant numbers move to New Zealand, especially to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, the majority being Russians, Ukrainians and Serbs sponsored by the Slavic Benevolent Society founded by Hieromonk Ambrose (Mooney). The three Russian parishes each grow from a few dozen members to 1-2 thousand each, with 5000 in Auckland. Romanian-speaking community in New Zealand greatly strengthened by new arrivals.

1992 Oct: Fr Ilyan Eades transferred to be the rector of St Michael Church, Dunedin. He also establishes and pastors Invercargill mission.

1996 Nov: The first Pastoral visit by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to New Zealand

Dec: Archpriest Ilyan Eades again declines an offer to join the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand, with full-time salary to be paid by Greek government.

Dec 4: John Hubbard ordained to the diaconate to serve at St George Church (Antiochian) in Auckland.

2006 May: Sixth Clergy Conference of Australia and New Zealand (Antiochian) held in Wollongong, Australia. New Zealand Deanery meeting in Wollongong presided over by Met. Abp Paul has wide-ranging discussions for the future of the Orthodox Church in New Zealand. Further discussions held in plenary session of Conference.

2008 Feb: Deacon Eugene Koulanov ordained to the Priesthood to serve as second priest in Christ the Saviour Russian parish in Auckland.